Start the Conversation

We want to introduce ourselves. We are Karen and Chuck Bennett. Nelson is our home, and we were fortunate to have raised our three children in the community. Our kids attended school and were involved in many aspects of the community through sport, the dance community and volunteering. Our oldest daughter and our son continue to be very involved and are a big part of our organizing of this event.

In recent years, our youngest daughter has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and our journey as a family into understanding mental health began. It has been a truly trying and difficult experience. We are fortunate that our daughter has allowed us to be quite open about our experience with others. 

One surprising outcome for us, found by sharing our family’s experience, is how prevalent mental health challenges are for many of our friends and acquaintances. They have opened up to us sharing their own family experiences and challenges.

Our hope is that we, as a community, can work towards ending the stigma of mental health. It is important for us to be able to talk openly about our personal struggles and ask for the support that is so crucial.

The event that we are organizing has been structured with an opportunity to reach students at LVR that may need that nudge to start a conversation with someone, as well as provide the community as a whole, whether parents, siblings, coaches or employers, the opportunity to understand more about the stigmas around mental health. And where to look for support.

We want to START THE CONVERSATION in Nelson. And hope that you will be a part of this important first step.

                                                                                      Karen and Chuck Bennett

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